About This Book

Moon Shadow is eight when he sails from China to join his father, Windrider, in America. Windrider lives in San Francisco's Chinatown and works in a laundry. Moon Shadow has never seen him.

Moon Shadow soon loves and respects this father, a man of genius, a man with a fabulous dream. With Moon Shadow's help, Windrider is willing to endure the mockery of the other Chinese, the poverty, and longing for his own country to make his dream come true.

Inspired by the account of a Chinese immigrant who made a flying machine in 1909, Laurence Yep's historical novel beautifully portrays the rich traditions of the Chinese community as it made its way in a hostile new world.

Praise for Dragonwings

"[A]n unusual historical novel, unique in its perspective of the Chinese in America and its portrayal of early 20th century San Francisco, including the Earthquake, from an immigrant's viewpoint." — School Library Journal

1976 Newbery Honor Book
ALA Notable Children's Books of 1971-1975
1976 Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor Book
The New York Times Outstanding Children's Books 1975
School Library Journal Best of the Best 1966-1978

About the Authors or Illustrators

Laurence Yep

Renowned author Laurence Yep discovered and began writing science fiction in high school. He believes that teenagers identify with the "strangers," or aliens, in his work. Sweetwater and Dragonwings are two of Yep's titles.

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